If you can’t make it through the day without a morning (and an afternoon) caffeine fix, you’re not alone. The National Coffee Association says 66% of Americansor seven out of 10, wake up to a cup ‘o joe daily. Whether you drink drip coffee at home or fancy lattes from the local coffee shop, caffeine tops the list as everyone’s favorite beverage.
You’ve probably seen studies about the health benefits of coffee’s antioxidants, but did you know coffee (and specifically coffee grounds) can be useful in other areas of daily life? From buffing furniture to pest control, coffee has some secret superpowers that shou You think twice about dumping those grounds into the trash.
Learn how to make pricey coffeehouse drinks for cheap with our guide to making lattes and good coffee home.
27 Uses for Coffee Grounds & Coffee That Go Beyond the Cup
Many of the applications for coffee that don’t involve guzzling it (no judgment) rely on a byproduct of your morning caffeine fix — coffee grounds. If you’d like more grounds than your coffeemaker can provide, consider swinging by your local coffee shop and asking for their used coffee grounds. They usually hand out the day’s leftover grounds for free.
Here are 27 uses for coffee grounds and coffee.
- Meat rub and tenderizer
- Chili companion
- Chocolate cake enhancer
- Secret sauce
- Compost and fertilizer
- Pest control
- Flower food
- Growing mushrooms
- Hand, foot and body scrub
- Hand cleaner
- Hair conditioner
- Treatment for dark circles under eyes
- Reduce the appearance of cellulite
- Traction on ice
- Bug repellant
- Roach trap
- Deodorizer
- Kitchen scrubber
- Fireplace helper
- Wood stain
- Furniture repair
- Air freshener
- Flea remover
- Fabric dye
- Pincushion filler
- Painting and antiquing treatment
- beer brewing
Using Coffee in the Kitchen
Coffee’s unique combination of acidity and flavor helps it bring a lot to the table both in and out of the kitchen.
1. Meat Rub and Tenderizer
Use fresh coffee grounds…
